I’m really glad you like the first
video. Thanks! That’s a good question you’ve asked. I’ve not made
any Celtic Crosses, but I was looking at some. If you’re going for
the white lines around the cross, the Star video will teach you how
I make the white lines. I’m sure they will work for the cross too.
The Star video won’t teach you how to fold the cross, but the
general idea is similar to the star fold. Once you can get the lines
you’ll be able to use the technique on many different patterns. So
after that, it all boils down to the folding. That's where the
butterfly video is helpful. In that video I show how to make folds
that I haven’t shown in the other videos. The butterfly video
probably won’t help you fold the cross, but would help you with
other folding techniques.
I'm sure that with the video and
practice you will get much better! I have a huge box of old Tie Dyes
I made that weren't any good. Also in the box are quite a few that
turned out good, but were on old shirts and sheets, because I was
practicing. It's really not a waist to practice on old clothes. You
might spend a little more on dye, but you can off set that some, by
using only enough dye to see if it works. Also I have made many
patterns on paper towels to check them.
Just having the drive to make them helps
a lot, but visualizing what I want helps me the most. I usually put
more into the "what am I going to make" rather than "how".
Most of the "How" comes to me once I know "What".
I feel confident that watching me make
the Tie Dyes will help it "click" better for you!
Are you looking for something fun to do? How about a weekend project for yourself or a family project? Maybe you are looking for a party theme or some kind of group project with your friends or classmates. Have you considered making Tie Dyes?
Making color filled shirts, skirts, sheets, or dresses are an easy and enjoyable thing to do. You can have lots of fun being creative and getting a surprise when it’s over. You could say making Tie Dyes is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get until you get it.
Using the right dye is essential when making Tie Dyes. Why would you spend your money and time making Tie Dyes when they are going to fade after the first wash? Procion MX is the standard dye to use so your colors are bright and permanent.
You don’t need to know how to make Tie Dyes to have fun making them. Tie Dyes can be anything from totally random and blotchy to precise and beautiful. I like to say that if you’re happy about it,
it's perfect!
The overall process is simple: choose the colors you want to use, mix them up, and prepare the 100% cotton with the chemical Soda Ash. Then fold the cotton into some pattern and secure it, so it won’t fall apart if you move it. Then apply the dyes in the order your want, wait a few hours if you have time. This helps the dyes bond to the cotton making the colors brighter. Then wash the new Tie Dye a couple times and you’re done! Walla, you’ve made your own Tie Dye.
You can buy Tie Dye kits that have many of the tools and chemicals you’ll need. The kits can range in size from a few shirts to a couple hundred shirts that can be dyed. Many times not only will you get all the dyes and chemicals you need, but also some of the main tools you can use. Squirt bottles, gloves, dust masks, and rubber bands. The tools that come with the kits are to get you started and work fine if you’re not going to be too critical of the outcome. If you’re an experienced Tie Dye maker or as you progress in your skills, you may find the squirt bottles and rubber bands aren’t cutting it for you. The tools used to apply the dyes and hold the cotton together can be changed to get different outcomes. But I must
say that just changing the tools wont change the outcome. The different tools enable you to color and hold the cotton differently.
If you’re going to make Tie Dyes and want to learn more about how it’s done by the professionals you can buy the
Tie Dye Crash Course. The crash course teaches you how to mix and make all the dyes, prep the cotton, fold and tie the cotton, and all the basics about the process. The TDCC also teaches viewers how to make 10 great patterns. Trying to figure these patterns out on your own can be fun, but might take you years to actually get right. That’s why the TDCC is so important. Why spend lots of valuable money and time making Tie Dyes that you’re not happy with. Spend 85 minutes preparing on how to make great Tie Dyes right out of the gate. Some examples of the patterns you will learn in the Tie Dye Crash Course are Swirls, Stripes, Hearts, Peace Signs, Clovers, and Multi-Patterns. The TDCC is essential for any new Tie Dyer. It will help you get the most out of your chemicals, tools, time, and money!
Click the play button to view a sample of the Tie Dye Crash Course
Phat Dyes makes Tie Dye
shirts and tapestries on 100% cotton with Procion MX dyes. Each Tie Dye is unique in its own nature. Trying to create an exact copy of a
Tie Dye does not work out very often. There will always be slight
differences in the colors and/or the patterns. Creating Tie Dyes in
bulk (2 or more) at the same time offers the best chance of
identical color and pattern replication.
Tie Dyes created for sale, you will notice, are all different even
if the patterns are the same. So when you buy a Tie Dye from Phat
Dyes, rest assured that you will have the only one like it. Many
Tie Dyes look similar, but after close examination you will notice
they are unique.
